PORAC Institute Courses

This 16-hour course will walk you through the politics of a contract, how to avoid critical mistakes and erroneous assumptions, and how the grievance and arbitration process works when your MOU isn’t being followed. You’ll be able to define and describe what’s in your contract, learn what fiscal emergencies and municipal bankruptcy have to do with your negotiations, and how to develop an agreement based on monetary AND no cost items that meet the needs of YOUR members and the city/county.

Who should attend?

Anyone involved in negotiations or who would like to be more knowledgeable about the negotiation processes. Attendees must have completed the Basic Collective Bargaining course, or a similar course on basic negotiations to register and attend. **Association documents will be requested prior to the course.

$200 registration fee / $325 Non-member
STC certified

Two-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 16-hour course is designed to strengthen your organization by identifying and understanding the roles, duties and responsibilities of association board members. Participants will learn the skills necessary to deal with the day-to-day operations of running an association, from parliamentary procedures to fiduciary duties. Additional subject matter includes defining an association, organizational models, conflict resolution, corporate responsibilities, financial management, the duty of fair representation, bylaws, and the legal and ethical responsibilities of association board members.

Who should attend?

New or current board members who have not attended or need updated training, anyone interested in becoming a board member or who would like to become more knowledgeable in the subject matter.

$200 registration fee / $325 Non-member
STC Certified

Two-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 22-hour introductory course on collective bargaining provides an overview of the entire process. It includes a legal analysis of laws related to collective bargaining including Meyers-Milias-Brown, analysis of positional and hard/soft bargaining as compared to interest-based bargaining, how to prepare for negotiations, basic contract costing, and defining what is good faith bargaining. This course is intensive, demanding, and requires students to commit to attending the entire course. It will help to prepare you to negotiate with the best!

Who should attend?

Anyone involved in negotiations or who would like to become more knowledgeable about the negotiation process.

$275 registration fee / $400 Non-member
STC Certified

Three-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An 8-hour interactive course demonstrates how law enforcement and other newsmakers can communicate more effectively with the media and public during both routine, as well as breaking news events. From day-to-day encounters to mass casualty incidents, this class reveals how it is imperative for the newsmaker to get out in front of an event as soon as possible in order to give the story a direction. Students have the option to go before a live TV news camera during the class for breaking news simulations to test their skills.

Who should attend?

Anyone who communicates with the media, public, government agencies, or legislative groups. The class is geared for students with all levels of media relations experience, from limited or no media experience, and will benefit from the training.

$125 registration fee / $250 Non-member

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 16-hour course provides an overview of the role that internal affairs plays in a law enforcement agency. The course materials cover legal issues, case law, rights and responsibilities, California Peace Officers Bill of Rights, critical incidents, conduct unbecoming an officer, and a variety of other legal considerations, including COVID.

Who should attend?

Association board members or anyone who might find themselves involved in providing representation or is interested in gaining more knowledge about the California internal affairs process.

$200 member registration fee / $325 Non-member
POST / STC Certified

Two-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 8-hour class will cover a variety of areas that deal with this sensitive topic. You will hear from individuals who have been personally involved in dealing with a Line of Duty Death from the beginning, to end and beyond. They will discuss their experiences and help to prepare you with handling this type of incident from a Departmental and Association perspective. It will also be a time for group discussions and input from people attending, who have had experiences with a Line of Duty Death within their own Department. Topics to be covered but not limited to will include, how to make a notification, planning a Law Enforcement Memorial, Resources, Benefits, support organizations, how to take care of yourselves and continued support and involvement with the family.

Who should attend?

LEO’s, Association board members, and/or Department personnel who are responsible, or will be responsible, for the handling a LODD in their Department. This would also be a good course for those considering taking this position at their Department during a LODD.

$125 registration fee / $250 Non-member
POST / STC Certified

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 8-hour class will cover a variety of topics and answer common questions regarding starting a Peer Support Team at your Department. Why is a PEER Support team important? How do I create one for my department? Who should be on a PST? How do I fund it? I have a PST now how do I manage it? Our instructors will guide you through this process, answering all your questions, and providing resources you would have never thought of on your own.

Who should attend?

LEO’s who are interested in starting a peer support team at their department (or through their Association), or those who are looking for information to take back to their Department or Association with the intention of starting a PST.

$125 registration fee / $250 Non-member
STC Certified

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Political Action

The 4-hour block on Political action will look at the value and future of political action and political action committees (PACs) as they pertain to the law enforcement community. Participants will learn the value of establishing a PAC and receive an overview of the current rules governing campaign and PAC expenditures. Learn how to author a bill and how a bill becomes law. Also covered will be an overview of the legislative process, current legislation affecting law enforcement, how to interpret proposed language, campaign strategies, and your legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

PAC Management

The 4-hour block on PAC Management will begin with a review of the state campaign laws contained in the Political Reform Act of 1974 and the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Participants will work from the PORAC Political Action Committee (PAC) Guide, which will provide required information and documents necessary to establish and maintain a PAC, including definitions of legal terms, commonly asked questions and answers, record-keeping requirements, state and county filing addresses for campaign reports, tax rules, sample completed state and county filing addresses for campaign reports, sample completed federal tax forms and sample completed state campaign reporting forms.

Who should attend?

PAC members, association board members or anyone involved in the decision to establish a PAC or gain more knowledge about the political environment and process.

$125 registration fee / $250 Non-member
STC certification pending

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A new perspective, POWER, helps maintain and improve the psychological characteristics of successful peace officers. Using the principles and exercises in The POWER Manual: A Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Police Officer Wellness, Ethics, & Resilience, attendees learn about the moral risks of policing and the transactional relationship between officer wellness and their ethical decision-making. These moral risks include moral disengagement, which results in dehumanizing members of the community, and moral injury, which results from actions and inactions that leave officers with feelings of guilt, shame, anger, and betrayal. The course guides officers to create a personal wellness plan that fosters optimal physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual health. Additionally, attendees recommit to their noble cause through exercises designed to recalibrate their moral compass. Finally, attendees learn to apply POWER to effective policing in relation to CA POST’s ten psychological job dimensions.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees have the opportunity to:

1. Describe the moral risks of policing
2. Understand the transactional relationship between wellness and ethics
3. Create a personal wellness plan
4. Develop a plan that recommits to ethical decision-making
5. Apply their POWER wellness plan to effective policing vis-à-vis ten psychological job dimensions

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This class will familiarize students with the nuances of the CPRA and recent legislation expanding the disclosure of police records.  Students will gain guidance regarding timelines for disclosure under the CPRA, exceptions to the production requirements, and disclosure requirements of high profile and controversial categories of peace officer investigations and personnel records. The class will offer strategic insights regarding how to limit the adverse impacts of recent legislation expanding the disclosure of personnel records.

Hotel Recommendations:

Holiday Inn [>5 minute walk]

Hilton Garden Inn Natomas [>10 minute walk]

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.